With nearly 40 years of experience in all facets of commercial real estate, Tom Sanford is nothing if not dedicated and driven, traits that have served him well in the realm of commercial development. Combining visionary thinking with impeccable execution, Tom’s sees possibility and the big picture while tackling all the necessary details – permitting, regulatory approvals, timelines and budgets – along the way. On every project and for every client, Tom leads with honesty and integrity from concept to completion.
The Bridges Golf Course
While Tom Sanford’s previous experience with golf courses had been in a brokerage capacity, he elevated his services and further honed his expertise on the complex, marquee development of The Bridges Golf Course. This complex project involved many significant agencies and municipalities, including Dane County Regional Airport, City of Madison, Dane County, Federal Aviation Administration, State of Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics, US Army Corps of Engineers, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Wetlands and a large landfill on The Bridges property added to both the design challenges and the satisfaction of completion. When finished, Tom Sanford was told the beautiful golf course he developed required more permits and approvals than the highly acclaimed Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center.
(under the auspices of DSI Real Estate Group)
Glen Erin Golf Course Development
Located at Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport, this 18-hole golf course design has a strong Irish flavor and the same with the clubhouse, the Cursing Stone Pub. Tom Sanford negotiated a land lease with the airport and contracted two firms (with Irish heritage) to construct the golf course; Ryan Incorporated and Rock Road Company owned by the Kennedy family. Scotty, the shaper that worked at Ryan Inc. (shapers use a bulldozer like Michelangelo used a chisel and hammer, for sculpting the terrain rather than a slab of stone) said that this was one of the best sites he has ever worked on. The site was an old river bottom, thus much of it was pure sand, which is very good for drainage and grows grass like crazy, but doesn’t hold water, so it’s either a pond liner for the irrigation pond or a centrifuge at the pump to remove the sand before the water hits the sprinklers. Ponds do attract wildlife, especially geese, which can be a hazard for aviation, so we decided to have the centrifuge, which was the right decision.
Chick-Fil-A
Sanford Enterprises was contact by the broker that represented Chick-fil-A and Tom had a business relationship with the owner of this very desirable properties. The landowner, a very astute businessman who lived in South America and owned properties in Madison, was very interested in a ground lease with Chick-fil-A. Tom was instrumental in negotiating the ground lease, then shepherded the project through the City of Madison Planning. Chick-fil-A engaged a general contractor and during the construction Tom was the absent owner’s eyes. No doubt the very busy Chick-fil-A will be at that location across from East Towne Mall for many years.
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